Mattresses and pillows aren't simply worth protecting because they cost us all good money: though if you have invested in top quality items that is certainly a big consideration. The fact is that, in addition to the natural wear and tear of the human body on a mattress or pillow, we all perspire as we sleep - up to half a litre a night in some cases - and all have natural body oils that can soak into our bedding as we sleep. It's also worth bearing in mind that the dead skin we all lose in bed is a natural breeding ground for the house dust mites that irritate allergy sufferers and the asthmatic.

What type of mattress protector is right for you?

All of our high quality mattress protectors provide an extra layer of comfort as well as essential protection for your mattresses and pillows. Having said that, there are three main types to be aware of:

Standard mattress protectors

Usually made from poly cotton and quilted with a non-allergenic hollowfibre filling, standard mattress protectors add comfort to your mattress as well as protecting it from perspiration and body oils. These are also machine washable at 60 degrees, which is the temperature required to kill house dust mites.

Anti-allergy mattress protectors

Identical to standard mattress protectors in almost every way, anti-allergy protectors are treated with antibacterial and antimicrobial protection to actively resist house dust mites, giving added protection to allergy- and asthma sufferers; particularly if you have an old mattress which may be harbouring dust mites. Importantly, these are also washable at 60 degrees, which won't harm the anti-allergy treatment even after repeated washing.

Waterproof protectors

From spilled cups of tea to night-time accidents, it's easy for liquids to spoil a mattress by soaking into it. That's why we recommend our waterproof protectors for those who take a hot drink to bed, as well as for children and the elderly. These needn't reduce comfort either, especially when you choose our Silentnight Quilted waterproof Mattress Protector.

What type of pillow protector is right for me?

We all perspire in bed to some extent, with natural body oils, saliva and even hair products contributing to the liquids that can be absorbed by your pillow through a normal pillowcase. So our sleep experts recommend pillow protectors very highly, whichever type you choose:

Standard pillow protectors

Made from washable poly cotton, standard pillow protectors also tend to be diamond quilted with a hollowfibre filling to provide added comfort and protection as well as absorbency. These are designed to be machine washed and tumble-dried on a regular basis.

Anti-allergy pillow protectors

Like standard pillow protectors, these are quilted with hollowfibre to offer comfort and absorbency, yet are also treated with antibacterial and antimicrobial protection to resist the house dust mites that cause allergic reactions and irritate people with asthma. These can also be machine washed and tumble-dried regularly, without any reduction in the effectiveness of the anti-allergy treatment.

Egyptian cotton pillow protectors

Pillow protectors offer added comfort as well as a barrier for your pillow. That's especially true of Egyptian Cotton pillow protectors, which offer a luxurious comfort that you can feel through an existing pillowcase. This makes them especially popular with those who like to look after their skin. After all, if you're going to rest your face on a pillow all night, it really should be as gentle as possible on your skin.

A two-year guarantee on every protector

At Sleepy people, we like to protect your pockets as well as your mattresses and pillows. So if a problem arises within two years that was caused by a manufacturing fault, we will refund or replace your duvet at our discretion.

We are also happy to offer a refund or replacement at the time of delivery if any mattress or pillow protector you buy from us is incorrectly supplied, faulty or found to be damaged in any way upon delivery.